An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 152

Author: Miller, Joaquin, 1837-1913. cn
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis pub. co.
Number of Pages: 1216

USA > Montana > An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 152

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Winstanley was born in Canada, near the city of Toronto, December 10, 1857. The Winstanleys came from England to America in 1843 and established their home in Canada. Rev. Charles Winstanley, the grand

763

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

otherwise be net profits. The refining costs $16 per ton, and the freight to Aurora, Illinois, costs 822 per ton : and the freight on coke by rail to Livingston and by wagon to Castle costs about the same. Thus the freight bills alone exhanst the valne of good ores. Hence, none but the richest ores can now be worked at Castle. These figures show that a railroad to Castle should save in working the ores of the

father of our subject, settled in Toronto at the time alluded to, and in that city spent the rest of his life, which was devoted to the work of the ministry. Orlando Winstanley, his son and the father of Edward A., was one of a family of six children and was born in England in 1823. He was educated at Eaton for the medical pro- fession, and was a successful practitioner all his life. He lived to be seventy years of age. He and his wife had a family of eleven children, nine of whom reached adult age, and eight of that number are still living. Ed- ward A. is the next to the youngest in this family.

The subject of our sketch resided in Toronto until he reached his majority, his education being received in a private school and in the Upper Canada College. After spending some time in the office of a wholesale hard- ware firm, he went to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he was private Secretary for General Hammond, general manager of the Manitoba & Northwest Railroad Com- pany. His next move was to St. Paul, Minnesota, and from there he was sent to Helena, Montana, as local land agent for the Northern Pacific Railroad Com- pany, in which position he served two years. In 1885 he came from Helena to Missoula to accept a position with the Montana Improvement Company, now the Big Blackfoot Manufacturing Company. After spend- ing five years in their employ, he severed his connection with that company and engaged in the real-estate, loan- ing and insurance business on his own account in Mis- soula. In this business he has since continued. During the past four years he has purchased and platted 160 acres of land, eighty acres being known as the Ution addition to Missoula, and eighty acres as the Glen- wood Park addition. This land is subdivided into acre lots for suburban houses, and on these lots he has planted trees, thus largely enhancing their value. In- deel, on this suburban property he has planted no less than 35,000 trees, including apples, pears and prunes, and in this enterprise he was the first to venture. The ad- ditions are watered by the Canon ditch. In the insur- ance department of his business he represents ten of the very best and strongest companies of the land. He loans both local and Eastern money.

The commodious and attractive residence on Madison street in which Mr. Winstanley and his family reside, he built in 1889. He was married in Helena, February 17, 1884, to Miss Alice Weikle, a native of Iowa. Their

district from $15 to $20 per ton. This saving would enable the miners to take out ores at a fair profit, which yield no profit under the present charges for freght on ores, fuel and bullion.

Among the mines which were in active oper- ation when I examined the district, were the Cumberland, Yellowstone, Felix, Crescent, Cali- fornia and Judge, and many others. The work

only child, born in Missoula in 1890, is named in honor of his father, Edward Alexander. Mr. and Mrs. Win- stanley are active members of the Christian Church at Missoula, he having rendered material aid in the build- ing of their house of worship, and now being treasurer of the church. Politically, he is a Republican.

WILLIS HENRY HAVILAND, M. D., Butte City, was born in Pawling, Dutchess county, New York, September 10, 1864, of the fourth generation of a French family born in America. At a previous period their ancestors moved from England to France on account of religious persecu- tion. In America they have been generally Quakers. The Doctor's father, Willis H. Haviland, was a leading druggist at Glens Falls, New York, for more than twenty years. Ile married his third cousin, Miss IIannah W. Haviland, and the subject of this sketch was their only child.

The latter attended the Glens Falls Academy, the Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, and later the Cornwall Ileights School at Cornwall on the Hudson, New York. In medicine he was a student of Dr. Stephen F. Birdsall, of Brooklyn, New York, and he finally graduated at the New York Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, in April, 1888, with honors. He afterward made a thor- ough study of the hospitals of London, Paris and of the continent.

Going, in 1888, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, he entered into active practice. In 1889 he was secretary, and in 1890 vice president, of the medical and surgical staff of the Minneapolis Homeopathic Hospital; in 1888-90 he was assistant physician of the Chicago Avenue Church Babies' Home at Minneapolis; was appointed by the Board of Ragents of the State University of Minnesota as a lecturer on mental and nervous disorders in August, 1889, and to a chair as professor in the Homeopathic Col- lege of Medicine and Surgery in May, 1890, and held elinies at the college dispensary.

His health failing he came to Butte, Montana, in Sep- tember, 1890, and established himself in a large general practice. The following year he entered into partner- ship with Dr. G. E. Blackburn, and they together became the founders of the Haviland & Blackburn Hospital here, - the only homeopathic hospital in the State of Montana. In the establishment and equipment of this institution the doctors have displayed much knowledge of the wants of such an asylum, sparing nothing to make it in every

764

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

on these mines had been well done and the mines were in as safe and healthful a condition as such mines could well be made. Work has been suspended for the time on the Great East- ern, the Legal Tender, Hidden Treasure, Black Hawk, Alice, Iron Chief, Powderly, Hampden, Jumbo and many others. All these are promis- ing mines and will in the near future be worked with handsome profits. About 900 promising discoveries have been located in the district,

particular all that it should be for the comfort and res- toration of the sick. Dr. Haviland is the medical exam- iner for three society and four life-insurance companies. He is also a member of the Medico-Legal Society of New York, International Medico-Legal Congress, American Institute of Homeopathic Medicine of St. Paul and Min- neapolis; and since coming to Butte he has been a favorite among the representative young men of the city, the Ora Plata, with a membership of about 150 of the most prom- ineut young men of the place, electing him a member of their club. The Doctor is a gentleman of a high order of talent and of nerve and energy in the execution of the work that comes to his hand. He and his partner have four fine rooms in the Owsley Block, finished in elegant style for office work in their line. They have well deserved the large and lucrative practice they now en- joy.

Dr. Haviland was married, June 5, 1889, to Miss Grace King, a native of St. Paul and a niece of the late Prof. S. King, of Chicago. They have a son, whom they have named Willis Brazee.

HENRY ELLING, proprietor of the bank which bears his name in Virginia City, is one of Madison county's most successful and highly esteemed business men.

Mr. Elling is a native of Germany, born December 9, 1842, son of a substantial German farmer and a devout member of the Lutheran Church. By the time he was fifteen years of age he had lost both his parents by death, and he then came with a younger brother to the State of Missouri, where an older brother had for five years been located. Previous to his coming to this country, young Henry received a fair education in his native language, aud upon his arrival here he at once applied himself to the study of English. His first employment was as a farm hand, and soon afterward he scured a position in a mercantile house, receiving his board and $6 per mouth the first year, and then getting an increase. Ile re- mained with the same firm until 1861. Ile theu went to Leavenworth, Kansas, and the following year to Denver, Colorado, where he obtained a clerkship in a clothing house and where he remained until 1864.

In 1864 Mr. Eiling came to Virginia City, bringing a stock of goods in ox wagons, and in October opened up a store. The following year he removed to HIelena, aud in

and many of them have been so far developed as to prove them valuable mines. Large amounts of ores have been shipped to Helena and other reduction works. The whole region is well timbered with fir and pine, suitable for all mining and domestic purposes; there is an ample supply of good water for all the wants of a large mining population. What Castle most needs is a railroad. The whistle of the locomo- tive would inspire new life and fill a hundred

a little log house with a sawdust floor he and his partner

opened up their stock of goods. Soon afterward his partner went East with most of their money, to pay bills and purchase more goods. About this time Mr. Elling began to deal in gold, prices went down and he soon lost all his meaus, and after closing out his stock in IIelena he too went East. After squaring up the debts of the firm, he purchased a stock of goods on time and estab- lished himself in business in Nebraska City, then the sup- At ply point for the trains that took goods to the West. first he was successful there, but soon Omaha became the supply station, and he found himself with a large stock of goods and no demand for them, and, more than that, he was in debt for the goods and unable to meet his obliga- tions. Ile explained the situation to his creditors and asked permission to move the goods. Having perfect confidence in his integrity, they told him to locate wher- ever he thought best, and he accordingly came to Vir- ginia City, Montana. Here he met with signal success. He continued in the business until 1873, at which time he opened his present banking house. He has always done a large credit business. During the early history of this section of the country payments were chiefly made in gold (lust. Since he engaged in banking, Mr. Elling has be- come the leading business man of Madison county. He is a partner in the three largest mercantile houses in Vir- ginia City, is interested in one at Sheridan, and he also es- tablished the Silver Spring flouring-mill. Besides this he has large mining interests and is an extensive land owner, having no less than 10,000 acres in different places. As the owner of 3,000 cattle and 10,000 sheep, he may also be classed among the leading stockmen of the county. Indeed, in whatever he has engaged, his well-directed efforts have always brought him success.

Mr. Elling was married July 20, 1870, to Miss Mary B. Cooley, a native of Michigan, and a daughter of W. A. Cooley. Mr. Cooley came with his family to Montana in 1868, and is now a resident of Madison county. Mr. and Mrs. Elliug have a family of seven children, all born in Virginia City, namely: Lena, Reta, Mabel K., Lottie, Hor- ace, Carl and Harrison M.

Mr. Elling is a member of the Masonic fraternity, both the Royal Arch and the Commandery, and he also be- longs to the A. O. U. W. In politics he is a Republican.

------

- -

765

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

mines with hopeful workers, whose nerve and muscle had received new activity and power; and the whistle of new furnaces and mills would soon startle the denizens of these beautiful mountains.

Willow mines are on Willow creek, about half way between White Sulphur Springs and Castle. A number of discoveries have been made at this locality. These have been more or less developed with varied success, but enough

At one time his party offered him the nomination for State Senator, but he declined to accept, not wishing to distract his attention from his large business interests; bnt he has served his own town as Mayor, and has ever taken the deepest interest in its welfare. He is now investing in a railroad enterprise, which he helped to inaugurate, that will bring the locomotive to his town.

While Mr. Elling is to-day regarded as the wealthiest man in the county, and while his money has all been made through his own efforts, still he has ever been free from anything like a sordid nature; indeed, he is the op- posite from that. His kind heart and his pleasant and winning manner have won for him hosts of friends.

HON. ALDEN J. BENNETT .- Among the prominent early settlers of Virginia City and most highly reliable busi- ness men, we find the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He has long been connected with, and is now the manager of, the Hall & Bennett Bank, of said city.

Mr. Bennett is a native of the State of New York, born In Delaware county, June 25, 1847. His ancestor, Robert Bennett, emigrated from England to Rhode Island in 1630 and was a resident of Newport in 1639. On the other side of the family the ancestry can be traced in a direct line to George Soule, who landed from the May- flower in 1620, and Anna (Becket) Soule, who landed from the Ann three years later. They became the par- ents of one of the influential families of early times. One representative of the family fought in King Philip's war and others distinguished themselves in the Colonial army during the Revolution. The Bennett line of an- cestry is as follows: 1st, Robert, who died at Newport, Rhode Island, about 1690; 2d, Robert, who died at Ports- mouth, same State, in 1722; 3d, Robert, who died at Tiv- erton, that State, in 1746; 4th, John, who died at Dart- mouth, Massachusetts, in 1769; 5th, Alden, who was captain of a vessel and died at sea in 1798 (vessel, crew and cargo lost); 6th, Isaac, who died at Harpersfield, New York, in 1812; 7th, Phineas L., who died at York, Pennsylvania, in 1892; and 8th, Alden J.

His great-grandfather, Isaac Bennett, was born in Dutchess county, New York, June 22, 1780, married, March 6, 1803, Anna Losee, and both were members of the Society of Friends. Immediately after their marriage they removed from Dutchess to the wilderness of Dela-

has been done to give strong hopes of a rich camp. Of the mines opened, the Grasshopper is deemed the most promising.

Copperopolis is situated on a low ridge of metamorphosed argillageois shales or slates between Castle and Little Belt mountains. It took its name from a series of copper veins dis- covered and partially opened early in the '60s, when the red man claimed the buffalo, antelope, deer, elk and bear in the beautiful hunting

ware county, where they were among the pioneers. They had five children, of whom Phineas Lounsbury Bennett was the second. He was born in Harpersfield, New York, February 15, 1806, and died at York, Pennsylvania, as aforesaid, February 5, 1892. He married, December 23, 1840, Minerva Hakes (daughter of Judge Lyman Hakes, of Delaware county, New York), who survives. Phineas L. and Minerva (Ilakes) Bennett had four chil- dren, namely: Mrs. Frances Dennis, widow of Hon. Rodney Dennis, of IFornellsville, New York; Lyman Hakes Bennett, a leading attorney of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania; Isaac Bennett, a merchant of York, Penn- sylvania; and Alden Joseph Bennett. The last named was the third born.

After receiving an education as a civil engineer in his native State, Alden J. Bennett came to the West and was employed in the engineering department of the Union Pacific Railroad until the completion of its line. He then went to White Pine, Nevada, and was engaged in milling and mining until 1870. That year he came to Virginia City. Here he became identified with the edu- cational affairs of the county, teaching school for some years and also serving as County Superintendent of Schools. In 1876 he accepted the position of bookkeeper in Henry Elling's Bank. This position he filled three years. In 1879 the banking firm of Raymond, Harring- ton & Company was formed, and Mr. Bennett became a member of the company, serving as manager of the in- stitution until November, 1889. At that time the com- pany was re-organized under the firm name of Hall & Bennett, and he has since continued to serve as the active manager of the bank. On the 28th of February, 1892, Mr. Amos C. Hall, the senior member of the firm, died. His means, however, have remained in the institution and its name has not been changed. The Hall & Bennett Banking Company was largely instrumental in organiz- ing the Alder Gulch Consolidated Mining Company, of which our subject is a director. This company operates placer mining claims in Alder Gulch on an extensive and successful scale.

Mr. Bennett is in politics a Republican and has had much to do with the party affairs in Madison county. For many years he has served as chairman of the County C'entral Committe, also as a member of the State Central

766

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

grounds on the Yellowstone, the Musselshell and the Judith, and the hunting grounds them- selves as most like those celestial hunting grounds where all good Indians go. Then the red brother often made it hot for the prospector and sometimes left him far from home, but re- lieved of all care of his horses, grub and blankets, -without " transportation, bed or board." Sev- eral trne crevice veins of copper ores have been opened along this ridge of slates for a distance

Committee, and in 1892 he had the honor of being a dele- gate to the National Convention held at Minneapolis. He has also served as Alderman and Mayor of Virginia City.

On the 21st of November, 1878, Mr. Bennett was mar- ried to Miss Mary Prout, daughter of Rev. Henry Hedges Prout, an Episcopal minister. He was a missionary in North Carolina and she was born there. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have three children,-Minerva Maria, Henry Phineas and Lyman Hakes. Mrs. Bennett is a member of the Episcopal Church and the family all attend its services.

Fraternally Mr. Bennett is identified with the I. O.O.F. and the Sons of the Revolution. Since coming to Mon- tana he has taken a deep interest in all public enter- prises and has rendered substantial aid to every under- taking intended to benefit the town, the county, the State or the country at large, and his whole record as a citizen and business man has been such as to merit the high esteem of all who know him.

JOSEPH R. WITMER, carriage and wagon manufacturer, Helena, Montana, is ranked with the enterprising busi- ness men of this city.

Mr. Witmer was born in Ontario, Canada, April 22, 1844. He is of Swiss descent, his ancestors having come to America previous to the Revolution and settled in Pennsylvania, where several generations of the family resided. They were Mennonites, Dunkards and Quakers, a people engaged largely in agricultural pursuits, and were peaceful and worthy citizens. Martin Witmer, our subject's father, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1790. He married Catherine Redinger, a native of Germany, and they became the parents of nine dangh- ters and three sons, of whom all except one are living, Joseph R. being the seventh born. Martin Witmer re- moved with his family to the wilds of Canada at an early day, and there in the midst of the forest settled down to the work of clearing and developing a tract of land. By industry and perseverance he succeeded in clearing up two farms.

Reared on the frontier where his father had settled, Joseph R. Witmer had only limited educational advan- tages. During his early youth he spent three months each year in the little log schoolhouse; and the rest of

of four or five miles. The principal ores are carbonates and sulphurets of copper, grey cop- per and native copper. These ores contain from 20 per cent to 50 per cent of copper and from $8 to $15 per ton of gold and silver, as shown by assays and by the yield or ores shipped to and smelted at Butte. The prospects at Cop- peropolis are very encouraging; the ore is rich and in true crevice veins of good size; but no one can tell how extensive and rich they will

the time he assisted his father in the clearing. Later he learned the trade of blacksmith, and for three years after serving his apprenticeship he worked as a journeyman in Canada. In April, 1873, he went to Salt Lake City, but soon after was attacked with mountain fever, and as soon as he was sufficiently recovered he returned to Canada, where he continued work at his trade four years longer. This Western country, however, still had an attraction for him, and in the spring of 1878 he came to Helena, where, on the 31st of March, he began work for Charles M. Jef- freys. Two years later Mr. Witmer and his brother Mar- tin bought ont Mr. Jeffreys, the establishment then being located in a little, old frame building on Main street, the present site of the Bailey block. They did a prosperous. blacksmith business from the start, and ere long they also engaged in the manufacture of .carriages and wagons. At first they made a great many stage coaches, some being as high priced as $850. Later in the growth of Helena they came to Park street and built the shops which they have since occupied, and still later Mr. Wit- mer bonght his present residence on Rodney street. He and his brother have a ranch of 800 acres in the Sun river country, in Lewis & Clarke county, where they are raising cattle, horses and sheep. They also raise large quantities of hay. Besides this they are also interested in several mining claims, one of which is being operated and is a paying gold mine.

Joseph R. Witmer was married in March, 1872, to Miss Jennie L. Sweet, at Brantford, Ontario. She died in 1884, aged thirty-seven years, leaving an only son, Perry Row- land. In December, 1891, Mr. Witmer married Mrs. Bertha Reynolds, his present companion.

Politically Mr. Witmer is a Republican. From 1887 to 1889 he served Helena as Fire Marshal, and during his term of service many new appliances were obtained, the fire-alarm system being put in and the efficiency of the fire company much improved. In appreciation of his services the members of the Fire Department presented him with a beautiful gold-headed cane, which he highly prizes. In 1871 he was made a Master Mason, and is now Senior Warden of King Solomon Lodge, No. 9, of Hel- ena. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., the A. O. U. W. and O. E. S., having served officially in the first two, and being now Past Master Workman in the A. O. U. W.

767

HISTORY OF MONTANA.

prove until they have been more thoroughly developed. The slates of this district are favor- able for copper veins.

The mountains from the copper and silver mines of the Bigger and Yogo to the silver and gold mines of Neihart and Barker are full of veins charged with gold, silver, lead, copper, and iron.

The Belt mountains, famous in early days for the placers found in its gulehes from the Gate

JOHN EYNON LLOYD, of Butte City, now County Com- missiouer of Silver Bow county, is a native of Wales, born April 14, 1834. His great-great-grandfather, Eynon Lloyd, was born in Wales and was a sea captain. llis grand- father, Thomas Eyuon, was also born in Wales, and was a miner; he lived to a good old age, and in religion he and his family were Methodists. His son, Richard Lloyd (father of John E.), was a native of the same country, born about the year 1800. Ile was a coal-mining engineer, and was married to Annie Eynon, a native of his own country. Of their nineteen children thirteen grew up to years of maturity and are still living: only three of these children were sons, and they are all living. Their father died in 1864, and their mother is now eighty-two years of age: they too were devout Methodists.

The gentleman whose name introduces this brief record, the eighteenth in the above mentioned family, received a little schooling up to his seventh year and then was placed at work in the mines, doing such small chores as he could, as opening air doors to let the cars pass through, etc. After this he attended night school to a limited extent, but his opportunities for an education were extremely small. Educationally, therefore, it can be said that he is a self-made man, having learned the most useful lessons of practical life from the costly school of experience. Ilis whole life has been devoted to mining, and he there- fore can be considered an expert. He mined in his native country until he was twenty-four years of age, when he emigrated to the United States and followed mining at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, until 1875. In June of that year he arrived at Butte, where he began his work in the mines at $3,50 a day, continuing for three years. Then Marcus Daly gave him the position of pump machinist, which he filled for ten years, when Mr. Daly made him superintendent of the Amy and Silversmith mines, and this place he occupied until 1886, when he was elected Sheriff of Silver Bow county, and in this capacity he served three years previous to the admission of Montana as a State and three years afterward, being elected three times. While he was Sheriff he had numerous hard cases to handle, but performed his duties thoroughly, bringing to justice every violator of the law that he sue- ceeded in arresting. He followed the notorious' "Billy Forester" to Chicago and brought him back unaided to

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

An illustrated history of the state of Montana, containing biographical mention of its pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 152

Author: Miller, Joaquin, 1837-1913. cn Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis pub. co. Number of Pages: 1216

Author: Miller, Joaquin, 1837-1913. cn
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis pub. co.
Number of Pages: 1216